Whitehall vs. Emmaus tonight is also the "Moussa Bowl"

A reader by the name of Paul Lloyd has offered a story that I think "Groller's Corner" readers might enjoy. Stephen Miller will be covering the Whitehall-Emmaus game tonight and has lots of insights into the contest in today's paper.

But here's another angle to the battle between the Zephyrs-Green Hornets, which, of course, used to be one of our Thanksgiving Day battles around here in the good 'ol days. Paul said he knows the Moussa brothers for many years. He said "They're great guys."

Here's his story on the Moussa Bowl, complete with his own headlines.

Whitehall vs. Emmaus Football…it’s the ‘Moussa Bowl’ and a heated Family Rivarly

The Moussa brothers, opposing line coaches at WHS and Emmaus; face off on Friday night

As Larry and Ramie Moussa’s parents sit around the kitchen table, they realize that that their two sons, brothers Larry and Ramie, are a little more passionate as they break bread over family meals this week. It is trash talk football at its best in Hokendaqua. They just hope that their son’s opposing lines - Larry’s the defensive line coach at Emmaus and Ramie is the offensive line coach at Whitehall – will be up to the task of dominating the line of scrimmage in Friday night’s LVC mid-season matchup.

Whitehall enters the game 5-1 in the LVC (2-2 overall) and Emmaus at 3-3, 4-3 overall); but all bets are off at the Moussa house. “I love both of my boys so much”, says Mrs. Moussa, “I just hope they both do well…and that their teams do the best that they can”. Mr. Moussa just shakes his head; knowing full well that there will be more pre and post-game commentary about this game than on ESPN for weeks to come…no matter who wins.

Larry is a 2004 graduate of WHS; and was a rugged and athletic defensive end for the Zephyrs. His brother Ramie, is a 2007 graduate of WHS, and was a tough offensive guard who never backed down from a fight. And when you ask any of Larry’s and Ramie’s mutual friends, you know that Friday night is just the beginning of a long and arduous battle over Lehigh Valley football.

“Both Larry and Ramie are the best”, says family friend Joe Lloyd of Egypt, “and I hope that both teams do well…even though I want WHS to win”. “But it probably wouldn’t be a bad idea to hire some refs for after the game for a few hours, so that we could monitor the off the field battle. If they could, both of them would strap it up and play in the game”.

And that’s exactly the kind of football game that is expected between WHS and Emmaus; a tough, well-played, and all around good football game. Whitehall features quarterback Nick Shafnisky, who is headed to Lehigh University next year for football, and has opposing LVC coaches scratching their heads for solutions. “He is definitely a talented kid, who is very fast and elusive” says Larry Moussa. “We need to get our kids ready for the challenge; and we need to find a way to limit his big play ability. Our defense is key for this game”.

Younger brother Ramie is certainly not helping his brother with any pre-game commentary; and he views Emmaus as a tough team, and a tough place to play. “We’ve had a good week of practice so far. We keep stressing the fundamentals, and making sure that our kids are up to the challenge”, says Ramie. “Emmaus is always good; I think it will be a real good football game”.

Whatever the outcome, the ‘Moussa Bowl’, as the game is being dubbed by family and friends, should provide a lot of lively conversation and commentary over the next few weeks and months around the kitchen table. For the fans – and especially for their parents – let’s just hope it’s a classic battle in the trenches.